Great Ocean Road Travel Guide

Organized Tours

Even on an organized tour, when you are not doing the driving, I'd be reluctant to try this in 1 day unless absolutely pressed for time. All the tours which operate to the Great Ocean Road take around 12 hours (sometimes more), which makes for a big day out. The large coach operator AAT Kings (tel. 03/9663 3377 in Australia; www.aatkings.com.au) runs daily trips which cost A$129 (US$103/UK£52) for adults, and A$65 (US$52/UK£26) for children. Gray Line Sightseeing Tours (tel. 1300/858 687 in Australia, or 03/9663 4455; www.grayline.com) also has day trips for a similar price and duration; you can pay online in U.S. dollars. A better option would be Gray Line's 2-day Great Ocean Road tour, which overnights in Lorne. It costs A$349 (US$279/UK£140) adults double (single supplement is A$61/US$49/UK£25) and A$120 (US$96/UK£77) for children.

Wild-Life Tours (tel. 1300/661 730 in Australia, or 03/9741 6333; www.wildlifetours.com.au) offers several well-priced multiday backpacker-style tours that take in the Great Ocean Road tour from Melbourne. A 1-day tour costs A$90 (US$72/UK£36), and a 2-day tour which overnights at Hall's Gap and also takes in the Grampians costs A$183 (US$146/UK£73) including accommodations.

Autopia Tours (tel. 1800/000 507 in Australia, or 03/9419 8878; www.autopiatours.com.au) offers a 1-day tour from Melbourne taking in all the sights and including lunch and a bushwalk in the fabulous Otway National Park. It costs A$95 (US$76/UK£38). The company also does a more relaxed 3-day tour for A$375 (US$300/UK£150), including most meals and dorm accommodations in local hostels. Upgrades to double rooms are A$65 (US$52/UK£26) per person or single rooms A$150 (US$120/UK£60) per person.

Visitor Information

Most places along the route have their own information centers. If you're coming from Melbourne, stop at the Geelong & Great Ocean Road Visitors Centre, Stead Park, Princess Highway, Corio, VIC 3214 (tel. 1800/620 888 in Australia, or 03/5275 5797; www.greatoceanrd.org.au). You can book accommodations here, which you should do in advance, especially in summer. The really good website gives you plenty of tour options. There's also a visitor center at the National Wool Museum, 26 Moorabool St. (at Brougham St.), Geelong (tel. 1800/620 888 in Australia, or 03/5222 2900).

Along the route, the Port Campbell Visitor Information Centre, 26 Morris St., Port Campbell (tel. 03/5598 6089), is a good place to pick up brochures. It has some interesting displays and an audiovisual show, and also acts as a hotel-booking service for the area. All these information centers are open from 9am to 5pm daily.